James Bulger's mother demands right to find freed killers

[suzywong]

as reported in the \link{http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_pages/news/news1.shtml\news of the world.

Should she have the right?

Discuss

When I was 10, I did a lot of things that I knew were wrong. Didn't you?
What those boys did was terrible in the extreme. But, even had they been fully aware of the enormity of their crime as they committed it (and I personally don't believe they were) they were nonetheless still childre. Children should not be treated the same as adults and tried as adults, simply because they arenot adults.

Of course not tinker. But I just meant from my point of view - i couldnt let it lie.

So what if they had been 15 at the time of their crime - they would still be children then

Yes, and I still do things that are wrong now, I sometimes do 80 on a motor way. But there are limits, and we all know (including children) what the limits are. I never caused another person physical pain at that age.

I agree that they are children and yes it is different. I also think that they can change, I also think that it will not help anyone for that poor woman to find them. But I can't belive that they didn't know that what they were doing was wrong.

when do children become responsible for what they do? 16th birthday? 18th birthday, 21st?

when??!

Children are still naughty despite knowing that what they are doing is wrong. That doesnt stop them doing it.
To those who think they clearly knew what they were doing how do you explain why they did it?

It's a process of development - some are aware of their actions sooner than others. Just because they may have known it was 'wrong' doesn't mean that they understood that what they were doing was actually going to kill a baby and leave him dead forever. Not sure when the concept of 'forever' comes into play, but I know I couldn't tell the time till I was at least eight!

Hercules - this is where the 'evil' thing comes into play - these children were possessed by the devil and we must stone them to death, etc, etc. Real gutter press frenzy stuff.

Hercules 'being naughty' is a tad different to torturing and murdering a 2 year old.

Make sure they're caged at the same time.

So why do you think they did it?

It is easy to take our own set of morals and be shocked that these same morals are not shared by two abused, negleted troubled 10 year olds.

if the two boys had been from different backgrounds (well off, well treated, attended school, good students etc) would people be defending them in the same way?

Fine, OK then, they were perfectly lovely angelic children who just thought they were being a bit naughty and carried on anyway with no clue as to the consequences.

Believe that if you like.

I would certainly question what led any child to do such a thing.

Either they were fully aware of their actions and the consequences and are evil monsters who can never be rehabilitated, so should be in prison forever and ever.

Or they knew what they were doing, but didn't realise what the severity of the outcome would be, but with rehabilitation have understood and repent.

Or they had no clue what they were doing and no idea they were hurting anyone, in which case they should probably be in secure accommodation for the rest of their days.

I'd go with the second choice. I'd also say that as they've been released and have been said to be rehabilitated, this is the most likely option.

How the hell do I know why they did it?! I'm not a murderer!!!

So how should we judge the whys of this case? Ask murderers to do it?!

What?!

I could never understand why!
It's an evil act that i could ever in a million years understand.

Who's the "what" to? I was just surprised by GDG's comment.

I think you're right, Hunkermunker. They knew it was wrong but didn't have a full understanding of the permanance of their terrible act. During police interviews, one of the boys asked whether 'the baby' had been 'made alive again.'

Do you really believe that they themselves knew why they did it? Is is so hard to believe that they were two extremely mixed up kids?

You asked me why I think they did it - how would I know? I don't know what drives 2 10 year olds to torture and murder a child - it's not something I ever contemplated doing myself, so, no, I can't tell you! I'm not sure anyone could tell you except them.

I think you're right, Hunkermunker. They knew it was wrong but didn't have a full understanding of the permanance of their terrible act. During police interviews, one of the boys asked whether 'the baby' had been 'made alive again.'